Freeborn County commissioners on Tuesday appointed Chief Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Pat Martinson as the county’s new auditor-treasurer.

Martinson will replace longtime Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad, who will retire at the end of the year. Distad has worked for Freeborn County for 41 years, and in the position for the last 30 years.

County Administrator John Kluever said Martinson has worked full-time for Freeborn County for 20 years and in the last few years has been training under Distad to transition into the role.

“Everybody’s real comfortable with Pat taking over as auditor-treasurer,” Kluever said.

Martinson, of Glenville, will complete Distad’s term, which goes through the end of 2014.

She will oversee elections, collect taxes and assessments, and oversee the county’s finances, investments, dispersement of checks, tax calculations and the license center, among other responsibilities.